This was immediately denounced by the opposition as well as Yoon's own conservative party. Protesters had gathered outside the gates of parliament to protest the declaration, clashing with police and chanting "no to martial law," "strike down dictatorship," and "open the gate." Under South Korean law, martial law can be lifted with a majority vote in parliament.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik submitted a resolution to lift the martial law which was passed with all 190 lawmakers present in parliament voting in favor, per BBC News. Despite this, South Korea's military says it will maintain martial law until it has been lifted by Yoon. There has been no word from him since his morning announcement.
Representative Lee Seong-yoon, of South Korea's main opposition party, told the outlet he had to climb a 5-foot fence to get to the assembly because police were blocking him from entering.
After the vote, military troops began leaving parliament. However the 190 lawmakers said they will remain in the building in case there is an attempt to disband the parliament.
Yoon said he would lift the emergency declaration of martial law after pressure from the National Assembly once ministers were able to meet. His cabinet then voted to lift it, the BBC reports.
Earlier on Tuesday, Yoon had delivered a live address to announce his declaration of martial law and provide his reasoning.
"I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order," Yoon had said during a broadcast. "I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalize the country,” he added, also asking South Koreans to believe in him and tolerate “some inconveniences."
Soon after the announcement, the South Korean military declared that parliament and other political gatherings would be suspended as they could cause "social confusion." Almost immediately, it was reported that the entrance to the parliament building was being blocked by military personnel. Helicopter also landed on the roof of the parliament building.
The military also stated that striking doctors must return to work within 48 hours. A strike has been happening for months over the government's plans to increase the number of medical school students.
"Tanks, armored personnel carriers, and soldiers with guns and knives will rule the country," opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said in a livestream online. "The economy of the Republic of Korea will collapse irretrievably. My fellow citizens, please come to the National Assembly."
Jae-myung, who called the declaration "illegal and unconstitutional," narrowly lost to Yoon in South Korea's 2022 presidential election. Nevertheless, his liberal Democratic party has controlled South Korea's single-chamber National Assembly. They have repeatedly rejected Yoon's policy plans and recently tried to impeach top prosecutors in the country.
Yoon, whose approval rating as president has been low, referenced this as justification for enacting martial law.
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